The Purposeful Pen - Clarity for Christian Writers

Have you found yourself in that in-between time when one life event or season has ended but the next hasn’t yet begun? We all have those times in life, and during them, it can be really hard to write! Those periods have a name - liminal time. In this interview with author Katie Sampias, we talk about why those times are difficult and how we can still make progress in our writing when we’re there....

How do you pray for your writing? Or for the rest of life, for that matter? In this episode, guest Jenn Soehnlin talks about how praying Scripture has greatly impacted her walk with Jesus and her writing. Jenn Soehnlin is a mother to two boys who are precious blessings and who both have special needs. She enjoys writing about faith, praying Scripture, and special needs parenting at www.embracing.l...

Do you dream of writing and publishing a book, but you wonder if it’s too late in life to do it? Or maybe you’ve considered writing children’s picture books and aren’t sure what that looks like. If so, listen to my conversation with Gina Gallagher, author of “Reading with Remmy” , the story of an unlikely friendship between a little girl named Finley, and a Golden Doodle named Remmy. Remmy finds i...

Have you wondered what it really means to be “called” as a writer? If you’re confident that God has called you, then is it normal for the journey to feel difficult? Listen in on my conversation with international author Hadassah Treu as we talk about that topic and others. Hadassah Treu is an award-winning international writer, speaker, poet, and author of " Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Beco...

Are you trying to fit writing in among the cracks of a busy life as a mom, wife, and follower of Jesus? In this episode, I talk with Grace Thomas about balancing all those roles and still finding time to write. Grace Thomas is a Christ-follower, wife, and mother. When she’s not playing with her children, she serves at her church and enjoys living in sunny California. You can connect with her on he...

Do you want to write, but your brain is lost in the fog of overwhelm and information overload? Are you not sure where to start or what to do next? We’ve all been there, and we all still go there in different seasons of life. In this episode, I offer 5 steps to finding clarity in our writing lives and in the rest of life. I reference Kendra Adachi and her book The Plan in this episode. Book a free...

Have you ever considered writing children’s chapter books? Or maybe you wonder if there’s a place in your life and writing for childlike faith. Listen in on this fun conversation with children’s book author Melody Trowell. (We had some tech issues, so thank you for your patience with the audio quality!) You can Melody and her book, “The Girl Whose Frown Shook the Ground” at www.melodytrowell.com S...

Networking with other writers is a great way to grow your writing platform and build up the Body of Christ. If that term sounds icky and sales-y, don’t cringe—listen to the episode! I talk about ways to network such as… * encouraging other writers * collaborating with other writers * saying yes to even small or uncomfortable opportunities You never know how God is going to use an encouraging email...

Being a guest on a podcast can be a great way to share your message with a broader audience. If you’ve ever considered it but aren’t sure how to get yourself booked as a guest, this episode is for you! You’ll learn: * What type of podcast is a good fit for you * How to prepare yourself to pitch to that show * What to include in your pitch * What to expect if the answer is “yes” If you have somethi...

What are some of the lies you believe as a Christian writer? How about things like: * I have nothing to offer * God can’t use me * No one will read what I write * It’s all been written before by someone better In this episode, we tackle those lies head-on. The most effective lies have an element of truth. If we try to ignore or minimize that truth, then the lie will still hold its power. But when...

Setting aside time to write can be tricky amid our busy lives. We can also struggle with feeling like we’re deserting those we love by asking for time away to invest in our writing. How do we love our people and honor our life priorities while still pursuing writing? Listen in for some ideas. If you’d like some help finding time to write, I offer 30-minute micro-coaching sessions where we look at...

God is sovereign over everything and everyone, so is it pointless to make plans? Should we wait to write or move forward until we have specific, undeniable instructions from God? In this episode, I look at some biblical examples of making plans but being flexible enough to change those plans as God leads. Then, we apply those principles to our writing lives. Do you want to get started writing for...

So many times, the person we’re writing for is a past version of ourselves. We’ve been through some things and we want to help others who are going through similar situations. But sometimes, the topics we write about involve how others have hurt us, either intentionally or unintentionally. As Christian writers, how do we handle those topics with grace, truth, and forgiveness in a way that will hel...

Welcome to 2025 and Season 3 of the Purposeful Pen Podcast! Is 2025 the year that you do something more with your love of writing, but you don’t know where to start? There are so many options and questions that it can feel overwhelming. If that’s you, listen in! In this episode, I’ll give you the starting point that will enable you to serve God and others through your writing. I’ll also show you h...

What does it look like for a writer to take a Sabbath rest? Part of the answer is probably what you would expect, but the other part may surprise you. Listen in to find out! This is my last episode for 2024. I’ll see you in January for season 3! If you’re considering the 2:2 Launch Lab 6-month mentorship, remember that doors close for the 2025 cohort on November 25! The Purposeful Pen is a weekly...

Writing is a solitary endeavor and can feel lonely and discouraging at times. God has wired us for relationship and community—we need each other! In this episode, I talk about 3 benefits to writing friends, both online and in-person. I also give you some suggestions on where to find a writing community if you aren’t involved in one. Links from the episode: Episode 11 about collaborations. Voxer vo...

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that the months of November and December can be the busiest time of the year. Some writers take those months off of writing to spend time with their families. A great option and nothing to be ashamed of! But what might it look like to dig into your writing, or at least one aspect of it, during those months through a fun writing challenge? In this episode, I talk a...

Have you been told that you need to “build a platform”, but it feels like self-promotion when you’d rather just write? This week, I talk with both Jana Carlson and Cara Ray about some of the myths and misconceptions about writing platforms. We also share our own experiences in discovering platform-building methods that are life-giving rather than drudgery. If you’d like to learn more, join for the...

Do you struggle with having too many writing ideas? Too many topics you’d love to write about? Are you concerned that if you narrow your message too much, you won’t ever be able to write about the other things that interest you? In this episode, I talk about finding the “one thing” that ties our gifts, strengths, and passions together, creating an umbrella under which our different projects can fa...

What’s a book proposal and why would I need one? If you’re writing a non-fiction book, a book proposal will sell your idea to an agent and then a publisher, which is a necessary step in traditional publishing. Listen this week as I talk with Lara d’Entremont about what a book proposal is, what makes a good one, and how to approach writing one. Lara will be leading a book proposal writing challenge...

Do you want to write a book but don’t know where to start? Opening a blank document and typing “Chapter 1” is NOT the first step of the process! In this episode, we’ll walk through the steps to get from “I want to be a writer” to pursuing publication. If you want to get started as a Christian writer but have no idea where to begin, this will tell you how! Download the free resource, “The Journey t...

What is the trellis that your writing life grows on? What habits or practices help you eliminate distractions and provide an environment where your writing can flourish? This week, I talk about a concept called a “Rule of Life” - a custom-designed set of habits or practices that help us grow in our faith. We’ll talk about it not only for our growth as disciples of Jesus, but also how the same idea...

Do you want to write, but you struggle to actually do it? It can be hard to find time, but then when we do find time, we sometimes succumb to distraction. Is it a time management issue? Or is it fueled by something else? In this episode, we look at what might be getting in the way of our writing, as well as some tools to overcome those obstacles and move forward. If you would like to learn more ab...

What does your relationship with your phone look like? It keeps us connected to those we love and can allow us to serve our readers with our writing. But for many of us, (myself included!) it is a source of distraction and stress. It reduces our ability to concentrate and focus—needed skills for a writer! This week, I interviewed Hannah Brencher, author of the book “The Unplugged Hours”. We talked...

Have you ever wanted to sit down with an author several steps ahead of you down the writing journey and ask her all the questions? I think that’s what you’ll find in this week’s episode. We talk about… * self-publishing vs traditional publishing * self-published books getting picked up by traditional publishers * the importance of writing conferences and making connections with agents and publishe...